Mounting means for a printing roll and associated driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

In printing apparatus a plate roll means employing a standard shaft means including interconnecting means enabling use of standard shaft means interchangeably and having standard gear means including interconnecting means to said standard shaft means to be used to drive said plate roll means.

e Unlted States atent inventor John R. Thompson Cincinnati, Ohio App].No. 745,823

Filed July 18, 1968 Patented Aug. 10, 1971 Assignee InternationalMachine Products, Inc.

Cincinnati, Ohio MOUNTING MEANS FOR A PRINTING ROLL AND ASSOCIATEDDRIVING APPARATUS 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 101/216, 101/375 Int. Cl 1341f 13/10, B41f5/O0 Field of Search101/375,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,618 6/1941 Stafford eta1. 101/216 2,503,858 4/1950 Waterworth 270/68 2,925,037 2/1960 Fischer101/216 3,151,551 10/1964 Dutro etal 101/216 Primary Examiner-William B.Penn Assistant Examiner-E. M. Coven Anomey- Kinney and Schenk ABSTRACT:In printing apparatus a plate roll means employing a standard shaftmeans including interconnecting means enabling use of standard shaftmeans interchangeably and having standard gear means includinginterconnecting means to said standard shaft means to be used to drivesaid plate r011 means.

PATENTEUAUBIOIQY: 3 59 050 sun-J 1 OF 3 JOHN R. THOMPSON 3 v w BY g ATORNEYS PATENT-Eflmmoaen y 3,598,050

sum 2 OF 3 INVENTOR.

JOHN R. THOMPSON BY f i ATTORNEYS PATENTEU AUG 1 01971 JOHN R. THOMPSONMOUNTING MEANS FOR APRINTING ROLL AND ASSOCIATED DRIVING APPARATUS Thisinvention pertains to printing apparatus and more particularly to animproved device for driving plate roll means comprising such printingapparatus.

Present printing apparatus generally utilize rotatable plate rolls whichare pressed or fixed on an associated rotatable drive shaft. In additioneach of such present plate rolls is also generally driven by a drivegear, or the like, which is also fixed to such drive shaft by soldering,or the like. Therefore, it has been necessary to purchase an additionalshaft and gear with each of such present plate rolls. Inasmuch as platerolls are periodically changed because of different printingrequirements and due to wear of such plate rolls the result has beenincreased cost of operation.

Accordingly, it is a feature of this invention to provide an improveddevice for driving plate roll means which is of simple and economicalconstruction and which provides optimum operating economy.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor readily interconnecting such rotatable plate roll means to drivemeans of a printing apparatus in a simple and efficient manner.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved printingapparatus employing standard shaft means and adapted to be used withplate roll means having axial opening means therein corresponding tosuch shaft means and including interconnecting means enabling variousplate roll means to be driven.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved printingapparatus having drive means such as standard gear means, or the like,which may be used to drive plate roll means interchangeably.

Another feature of this invention is to provide an improved printingapparatus of the character mentioned having unique coupling means forcoupling and uncoupling standard size gear means to such standard shaftmeans in a simple and efficient manner.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus having one or more of the novel features of this invention asset forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent froma reading of this description which proceeds with reference to theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the improved apparatus ofthisinvention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a por' tion ofaprinting machine utilizing the improved apparatus of this invention andparticularly illustrating the arrangement of an exemplary improved plateroll means and an associated backup roll.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with parts insection and parts broken away particularly illustrating mechanical drivemeans provided on the printing machine of this example and the improvedapparatus for interconnecting such mechanical drive means to drive suchimproved plate roll means.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. Sis a sectional view on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter illustratedand described as being particularly adaptable for providing an improveddrive means for supporting an i rotating plate roll means of a printingapparatus, or the IIkl it is to be understood that the various featuresof this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereofto prt vide an improved mechanical drive means for other uses as desred.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only he embodimentsillustrated in the drawings because the draw ngs are merely utilized toillustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

In the exemplary embodiment of this invention as particularlyillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, a fragmentary portion of aprinting apparatus or machine designated generally by the numeral 20 isillustrated. Printing machine 20 comprises printing roll means shown asa printing roll assembly 21 arranged to cooperate with a backup rollshown as a backup assembly or roll 22 to provide suitable printing on aweb of paper, or the like, which is passed between assemblies 21 and 22as shown at 23.

Assembly 21 comprises plate roll means shown as a plate roll 24 havingprinting plate means 24A which is suitably fastened to the outsideperipheral surface of roll 24.. The printing action is provided byprinting plate 24A engaging the above mentioned paper web; and, it willbe appreciated that for different printing requirements it is generallynecessary to provide a different plate roll 24 with its printing plate24A.

Plate roll 24 is supported at its opposite ends by a pair of supportassemblies or side frame assemblies 25 and 26 comprising printingmachine 20. Each assembly 25 and 26 has adjusting means shownrespectively as adjusting knobs 30 and 31 enabling plate roll 24 to bemoved toward and away from backup roll 22 in a known manner to controlthe printing action or impression provided by plate 24A.

Suitable mechanical drive means is provided on machine 20 for drivingbackup roll 22 and plate roll 24 as will be presently described. Thedrive means for backup roll 22 will be presented first.

Backup roll 22 is carried and rotated by a supporting shaft 32 which issuitably supported for rotation on machine 20. Shaft 32 is driven by adrive gear 33 fixed to a terminal end portion of shaft 32. Gear 33 isrotated by a cooperating gear drive (not shown) to thereby rotate shaft32 and roll 22.

Another gear means or gear designated by the numeral 35 is also suitablyfixed to shaft 32 spaced inwardly of gear 33 toward the center of roll22. Gear 35 drives a cooperating gear designated by the numeral 36comprising assembly 21.

The apparatus for detachably coupling and uncoupling gear 36 in positionon assembly 21 and the apparatus for detachably fastening plate roll 24to its supporting shaft in an efficient and economical manner comprisethe improved apparatus'of this invention and will now be described indetail.

Assembly 21 comprises a rotatable shaft 40, see FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, whichsupports plate roll 24 for rotation therewith. Shaft 40 is preferablythreaded along one end portion as shown at 41 and has a keyway meansshown as a keyway 42 adjacent its opposite end portion. Shaft 40 issuitably sup ported on side frame assemblies 25 and 26 as will bedescribed subsequently.

Plate roll 24 has a cylindrical axial opening provided therein as shownat 44 and as will be described in more detail later. Roll 24 also has akeyway 44A therein adjoining opening 44 which corresponds to keyway 42and is adapted to cooperate therewith. A key 45 is provided and used tofasten plate roll 24 to shaft 40 and prevent rotation therebetween.Thus, key 45 cooperating with keyways 42 and 44A comprise fasteningmeans which enable roll 24 and shaft 40 to be simply and easilydetachably fastened for rotation together.

A nut assembly 46 is also provided and is used to hold plate roll 24against a collar 47 fixed to shaft 40 adjacent its terminal end portionopposite-threaded end 41. Nut assembly 46 and collar 47 prevent relativeaxial movement between plate roll 24 and shaft 40 upon placing plateroll 24 in position around its supporting shaft 40 and threading nutassembly 46 against one terminal end 48 of roll 24 with the opposite end50 engaging collar 47.

Shaft 40 in this example is preferably a tubular shaft having a rightcircular cylindrical configuration. The outside diame' ter of shaft '40is'preferably a standard diameter to enable use with various plate rollsinterchangeably. in a similar manner plate roll 24 is of right circularcylindrical configuration and its cylindrical opening or bore 44,previously mentioned, is adapted to cooperate with shaft 40.

The outside diameter of shaft 40 and bore 44 provided in each plate roll24 to be used therewith are, of course, con

trolled within an acceptable tolerance limit to enable easy sliding ofeach plate roll 24 in position over such shaft with key 45 placed inposition in associated slot or keyway 42 as illustrated in FIG. 1 of thedrawings. Thus, it will be appreciated that shaft 40 may be used tosupport plate rolls of the same size as plate roll 24 to suit theparticular printing requirements by providing a cylindrical bore in eachhaving the same dimensional tolerance limits as bore 44.

Rotatable drive means comprised of previously mentioned rotatable gear36 is provided for rotating shaft 40 and hence plate roll 24, Gear 36has suitable gear teeth shown at 36A adapted to be engaged bycooperating teeth in gear 35 to enable rotation of gear 36. Gear 36 alsohas a central flanged hub 52 with a cylindrical surface or bore 52Atherein enabling gear 36 to be suitably supported on an end portion 54of shaft 40. A slot 53 is provided inhub 52 and comprises the couplingmeans enabling gear 36 to be readily coupled to an uncoupled fromterminal end portion 54 of shaft 40.

The coupling means also comprises pin means shown as a pin 55 adapted tocooperate with slot 53 and such pin is fixed to the terminal end portion54 of shaft 40 by any suitable means, such as by threading or stakingsuch pin in position. Pin 55 extends radially from the outer peripheryof shaft 40 in this example of the invention and is arranged to enablegear 36 to be easily coupled or attached to shaft 40 in a readilydetachable manner.

Thus, it will be appreciated that gear 36 is easily positioned on shaft40 by inserting end portion 54 through cooperating bore 52A in hub 52and aligning slot 53 about pin 55. Upon rotating gear 36, portions ofits flanged hub 52 engage pin 55 to rotate shaft 40 and plate roll 24keyed thereto by key 45.

For maximum structural integrity, gear 36 including its flanged hub 52is preferably made as a single piece in this example of the invention.It will be appreciated that in some applications it may be moreeconomical to provide the central flanged hub 52 as a standard piecewith a suitable disklike portion having peripheral teeth 36A therein andmeans for attaching to central hub 52. A common hub 52 could thus beused with various disklike toothed outer portions.

in printing apparatus of this type the size of gear 36 is generallyquite small. For example, it is not uncommon for a gear of this type tohave less than 49 teeth in its peripheral surface. Thus, gears similarto gear 36 having between 32 and 49 teeth are used quite extensively.

Working with such small gears, the need to keep the means used toattached such small gears to associated shafts simpli- -and economicalis apparent. The provision of slot 53 in flanged hub 52 cooperating withpin 55 provides an effective coupling device of utmost simplicity.

In the process of using apparatus it is necessary to satisfy a widevariety of printing requirements requiring various (and numerous) platerolls similar to as well as identical to roll 24. The use of standardshaft 40, gear 36, and associated apparatus makes it possible to readilyand simply support and rotate various plate rolls in an economicalmanner particularly, in those applications where it is necessary toreplace the driving gear, which is similar to gear 36, with a differentgear having a different number of gear teeth.

In those applications where it is necessary to replace the driving gear,which is similar to gear 36, with a different gear having a differentnumber of gear teeth, such driving gear is preferably made with asimilar central flanged hub having a central bore therein identical tobore 52A making it a simple matter to install on shaft 40. A slot,identical to slot 53, is also provided for engaging pin 55.

Thus, it is seen that various plate rolls are simply and easilyinstalled on and removed from shaft 40 and that associated gear drivemeans to drive such plate rolls are also easily provided as required tocorrespond in size to the associated plate roll means.

As seen in FIG. 3, assembly 31 is suitably supported on side frameassemblies and 26. The structure used to support assembly 31 at eachend-thereof will now be described.

The nut assembly 46 previously mentioned has a nut 46A and an extension468 extending outwardly therefrom. Nut 46A and extension 468 may be madeas an integral unit or as separate units and suitably fastened together.Extension 468 has a cylindrical bore 60 therein adapted to receive a rod61 therein. Rod 61 extends outwardly from bore 60 and is in turnsupported for rotation on suitable bearing means 62 provided in assembly25.

The opposite end of assembly 21 is supported on side frame or assembly26 by a rod 65 extending outwardly beyond gear 36. Rod 65 is held inopening or bore 52A provided in hub 52 of gear 36 at one end while theopposite end of rod 65 is supported in suitable bearing means 66provided in assembly 26.

Thus, it is seen that assembly 21 is supported on assemblies 25 and 26by rods 61 and 65. it will be appreciated that suitable antifrictionbearing means such as ball bearing, roller bearing, improved lubricatedsleeve bearings, or the like, may be provided as desired in associationwith either or both ends of each rod 61 or 65, as desired.

The apparatus of this invention has means for axially positioning plateroll assembly 21 relative to backup roll 22. Such means comprises anadjustable knob 70 having a threaded end portion 71 fixed thereto theterminal end of which engages terminal end 61A ofrod 61.

A spring 74 is provided at the opposite end of assembly 21 forcooperation between a surface 75 on supporting assembly 26 and a sidesurface 76 of gear 36. Spring 74 urges the entire assembly 31 to theleft as viewed in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

Axial registry, that is, movement of assembly 21 to the left or rightrelative to roll 22 is obtained merely by turning knob 70 eitherclockwise or counterclockwise. When turning knob 70 clockwise, in thisexample, spring 74 is overridden and the entire assembly 21 is moved tothe right. When turning knob 70 counterclockwise, spring 74 urges theentire assembly against threaded portion 71 and moves assembly 21 to theleftv In this example of the invention toothed gears have beenillustrated and described as providing the desired rotation of centralshaft 40 and associated plate roll means; however, it will beappreciated that other means may be employed, such as friction discshaving suitable friction surface means thereon, for example, or othersuitable means. Irrespective of the detailed configuration of theparticular drive means used, the unique advantageous features of theapparatus of this invention may be employed to drive various plate rollmeans with optimum operating versatility and economy.

By employing the unique readily interchangeable interconnecting meansillustrated and described herein for intercon necting plate roll meansto a mechanical drive therefor it is possible to provide suchinterconnecting means made of superior material and having improved wearcharacteristics for longer life. in addition, such interconnecting drivemeans could be manufactured with greater precision so as to improve theoverall operating performance of the associated printing apparatus, forexample. In addition, it would only be necessary to stock essentiallythe plate rolls and expendable printing plates therefor with effortbeing concentrated to improve the performance of such plate rolls andexpendable printing plates.

Terms such as left, right, side," and the like, have been used in thisdisclosure of the invention merely to describe the operation of variouscomponents as viewed in the examples presented in the drawings and theuse of such terms should not be considered as limiting the scope of thisinvention in any way.

Thus, it is seen that an improved apparatus has been provided which isof simple construction and which utilizes certain basic component meansinterchangeably to drive various roll means to provide efficient andeconomical operation.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been dis closed asrequired by statute, other forms may be used, all coming within thescope of the claimed subject matter which follows.

What 1 claim is:

n it u it 1. A printing apparatus having mechanical drive means,comprising, a rotatable shaft having a uniform cross section over atleast a major portion-of its length, said shaft being rotatablysupported on said apparatus, a cylindrical plate roll having a boretherethrough of uniform diameter, said shaft being received in said borewith said plate roll supported on said portion of said shaft having auniform diameter, cooperating means on said shaft and in the bore ofsaid roll for securing said shaft and said plate roll together, collarmeans on said shaft adjacent one end thereof against which an adjacentend of said plate roll abuts for limiting relative longitudinal movementin a first direction between said shaft and said plate roll, removablemeans on said shaft adjacent the other end thereof for holding saidplate roll against said collar means and preventing relativelongitudinal movement in a second direction between said shaft and saidplate roll, gear means slidably received over said one end of said shaftin coaxial relationship therewith, means on said one end of said shaftcooperating with means on said gear means to couple the gear means andshaft together against relative rotational movement therebetween, saidgear means and said removable means each having a bore therethrough, theopposite ends of said shaft extending into and terminating within saidbores in said gear means and said removable means, and spindle meansreceived at one end thereof in said bores in said gear means and saidremovable means for supporting said shaft on said apparatus.

2. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said cooperating means onsaid shaft and in the bore of said roll comprises first keyway means insaid rotatable shaft, second keyway means in the bore of said plate rollin cooperating mating alignment with said first keyway means, and keymeans engaged in said first and second keyway means for securing saidshaft and said plate roll together.

3. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said gear means hasflanged hub means with cylindrical bearing surface means thereon, andsaid means on said one end of said shaft cooperating with means on saidgear means to couple the gear means and shaft together comprisesradially extending pin means on said one end of said shaft, alongitudinally extending slot through said flanged hub portion of saidgear means, and said pin received in said slot to couple the gear meansand shaft together against relative rotational movement therebetween.

4. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said removable means onsaid shaft comprises thread means on said other end of said shaft, andnut means threaded over said thread means in position against theadjacent end of said plate roll to urge said plate roll against saidcollar means to prevent axial movement between said plate roll and saidshaft.

5. A printing apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said flanged hub means isintegral with said gear means, and said hub means comprises bearingsurface means, said spindle means for supporting one end of saidrotatable shaft received within said bearing surface means of said hubmeans.

6. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein yielding means isdisposed in cooperative association with an end of said rotatable shaftfor urging said shaft and plate roll in an axial direction to maintainaxial alignment between said plate roll and a backup roll meanssupported on said apparatus.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 in which, said gear meanscomprises side bearing face means, said yielding means comprisescompression spring means cooperating between said apparatus and saidbearing face means to provide said axial aligning, said rotatable shaftis a right circular cylindrical shaft, and said plate roll hascooperating cylindrical opening means enabling said shaft to be receivedin said cylindrical opening means, whereby various roll means havingcooperating cylindrical opening means may be interchangeably positionedon said shaft to be driven thereby.

1. A printing apparatus having mechanical drive means, comprising, arotatable shaft having a uniform cross section over at least a majorportion of its length, said shaft being rotatably supported on saidapparatus, a cylindrical plate roll having a bore therethrough ofuniform diameter, said shaft being received in said bore with said plateroll supported on said portion of said shaft having a uniform diameter,cooperating means on said shaft and in the bore of said roll forsecuring said shaft and said plate roll together, collar means on saidshaft adjacent one end thereof against which an adjacent end of saidplate roll abuts for limiting relative longitudinal movement in a firstdirection between said shaft and said plate roll, removable means onsaid shaft adjacent the other end thereof for holding said plate rollagainst said collar means and preventing relative longitudinal movementin a second direction between said shaft and said plate roll, gear meansslidably received over said one end of said shaft in coaxialrelationship therewith, means on said one end of said shaft cooperatingwith means on said gear means to couple the gear means and shafttogether against relative rotational movement therebetween, said gearmeans and said removable means each having a bore therethrough, theopposite ends of said shaft extending into and terminating within saidbores in said gear means and said removable means, and spindle meansreceived at one end thereof in said bores in said gear means and saidremovable means for supporting said shaft on said apparatus.
 2. Aprinting apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said cooperating means on saidshaft and in the bore of said roll comprises first keyway means in saidrotatable shaft, second keyway means in the bore of said plate roll incooperating mating alignment with said first keyway means, and key meansengaged in said first and second keyway means for securing said shaftand said plate roll together.
 3. A printing apparatus as in claim 1,wherein said gear means has flanged hub means with cylindrical bearingsurface means thereon, and said means on said one end of said shaftcooperating with means on said gear means to couple the gear means andshaft together comprises radially extending pin means on said one end ofsaid shaft, a longitudinally extending slot through said flanged hubportion of said gear means, and said pin received in said slot to couplethe gear means and shaft together against relative rotational movementtherebetween.
 4. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, wherein saidremovable means on said shaft comprises thread means on said other endof said shaft, and nut means threaded over said thread means in positionagainst the adjacent end of said plate roll to urge said plate rollagainst said collar means to prevent axial movement between said plateroll and said shaft.
 5. A printing apparatus as in claim 2, wherein saidflanged hub means is integral with said gear means, and said hub meanscomprises bearing surface means, said spindle means for supporting oneend of said rotatable shaft received within said bearing surface meansof said hub means.
 6. A printing apparatus as in claim 1, whereinyielding means is disposed in cooperative association with an end ofsaid rotatable shaft for urging said shaft and plate roll in an axialdirection to maintain axial alignment between said plate roll and abackup roll means supported on said apparatus.
 7. An apparatus as setforth in claim 6 in which, said gear means comprises side bearing facemeans, said yielding means comprises compression spring meanscooperating between said apparatus and said bearing face means toprovide said axial aligning, said rotatable shaft is a right circularcylindrical shaft, and said plate roll has cooperating cylindricalopening means enabling said shaft to be received in said cylindricalopening means, whereby various roll means having cooperating cylindricalopening means may be interchangeably positioned on said shaft to bedriven thereby.